MAT 103B

College Algebra (Part II)

Winter 2009

Instructor: Bruce Armbrust, phone: 541-4660 ext. 314, email: armbrust@ltcc.edu

Office Hours: Room A210,   Mon.                10:00 – 11:00 AM

            Mon.                1:00 – 1:30 PM

            Wed.               1:00 – 1:30 PM

Thurs.              12:00 – 1:00 PM

MSC,               Wed. & Fri.      10:00 – 11:00 AM

And as always, by appointment.

Class Time and Location: Tues. & Thurs. 10:00  -11:50 AM, E106

Textbook: Precalculus, 4^th Edition, Michael Sullivan and Michael Sullivan, III

Course Description: MAT 103B covers the properties of logarithms and exponentials, conic sections, systems of equations and their solution with Gaussian Elimination, a brief introduction into linear programming, sequences, series, permutations, and combinations.

Prerequisite: Mat 154 with a grade of “C” or better or appropriate skills demonstrated through the math assessment process.

Corequisite: Mat 153 or equivalent or appropriate skills demonstrated through the math assessment process.  Prior completion of Mat 153 with a grade of “C” or better also satisfies this corequisite.

Calculators: A graphing calculator is required for this class.  I will be demonstrating with the Texas Instruments-89.  I will do my best to assist with other models, but I promise nothing.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Prove and derive mathematical statements using various methods including induction.
2. Employ matrices and their properties to solve systems of equations.
3. Construct and interpret graphs of conic sections and transcendental functions.
4. Apply the topics of the course to real world situations.

Course Grade: Your final letter grade will be based on the usual grading scale:

A 90-100%, B 80-89%, C 70-79%, D 60-69%, F 0-59%

The following items will make up the course grade:

Homework:                              150 points       Average of HW Scores X 15

Quizzes:                                 150 points       Average of Quiz Scores X 7.5

Exam1 (January 27)

Exam2 (February 17):             450 points       Average of Exam Scores X 4.5

Exam3 (March 10)

Final Exam (March 24):          250 points

You may check your grades at any point in the quarter by going to the following website:

http://www.gradesource.com/reports/1027/15202/index.html

Homework: Homework will be due the class period after it is assigned.  Homework assignments not turned in at this time will be considered late. You may turn in homework up to one week after it is assigned for half credit.  If all homework is turned in, and no more than two are late, the lowest regular exam score will be dropped.  Your homework score will be determined in the following way: up to 5 points for completion and one point each for 5 problems chosen at random to be graded.

Quizzes: There will be seven quizzes given over the quarter.  These quizzes will be designed to help prepare you for the exams, and quiz problems will be taken directly from the homework assignments. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.  Since your lowest score will be dropped, missed quizzes may not be made up.

Exams: All exams will be given in two sections: one portion will allow calculators while the other will not.  If you cannot make it to an exam (final not included), you may take it up to 2 school days prior to the scheduled date with proper arrangements.  Otherwise, the exam may be made up after the scheduled date with a penalty of 10% per day.

Registration Information: You must register for this class at the Office of Admissions and Records.  You may drop the class with no penalty or mark on your record on or before January 30.  After January 30, you may drop the class and receive a grade of W until February 20.  After February 20, if still enrolled, you will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, F or I.

How to Succeed in a Math Class: I am often asked how to successfully pass a math class, and here is my advice:

I) Come to every class session.  Be prepared, and plan on participating.

II) Do your homework.  Remember that what I assign is what I consider a bare minimum.  If you need more practice, do it.  Don’t make me be a homework enforcer.

III) Read the book.  You paid good money for it, so you might as well use it.

IV) Make use of available tutors and my office hours.  You will find tutors who know the subject matter in this course at the MSC.

V) Do math every day.  Math is just like everything else: if you don’t practice, you become rusty.

Technology in the Classroom:  All cell phones, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, etc, must be turned off and put away prior to the start of each class.  No electronic devices (other than calculators) may be used during quizzes and exams.

Learning Disabled Students: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  Students may contact the DRC by visiting the Center (located in room A205) or by phoning 541-4660, ext. 249 (voice) or 542-1870 (TTY for deaf students).  All information will remain confidential.

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated.  Students caught cheating on exams or quizzes will receive a score of zero on the assignment for the first offense and a course grade of F for the second offense.  Students my work together on homework assignments (and, in fact, are encouraged to) as long as all students understand the material covered.

Course Schedule:

The following is a tentative schedule.  If things change (and I have money that says they will), I will let you know.

January

6          4.1/4.2                         Function Composition, One-to-One and Inverse Functions

8          4.3/4.4                         Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

13        4.5, Quiz I                   Properties of Logarithms

15        4.6                               Logarithmic and Exponential Equations

20        4.7/4.8, Quiz II            Applications of Logs and Exponents

22        1.5/9.2                         Circles and Parabolas

27        Exam I                        

29        9.3/9.4                         Ellipses and Hyperbolas

February

3          10.1, Quiz III               Systems of Linear Equations

5          10.2                             Using Matrices to Solve Systems

10        10.3, Quiz IV               Determinants

12        10.4                             Matrix Algebra

17        Exam II                       

19        10.7                             Systems of Inequalities

24        10.8, Quiz V                Linear Programming

26        11.1/11.2                     Sequences

March

3          11.3, Quiz VI               Geometric Sequences and Series

5          11.4                             Induction

10        Exam III

12        11.5                             The Binomial Theorem

17        12.2, Quiz VII              Permutations and Combinations

19        Review

24        Final Exam                 Note: The Final Exam is from 11:00 AM – 12:50 PM

The following is a list of all homework assignments for this course.  The due dates for the various sections will be given in class.